Group wants greater independence

Civil and religious rights groups in South Korea have urged the president, Lee Myung-bak, and his office to stop compromising the independence of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK).

Andrew Kim Duck-jin, secretary-general of the Catholic rights committee, a member ofÂ NHRCK-Watch, a coalition of 91 groups, stressed that the essence of the national human rights committee is 'independence'. He said the government has considered it as one of its affiliated arms.

NHRCK-Watch also demanded the immediate resignation of NHRCK chairman Hyun Byung-chul, alleging that he became the head of the committee with support from the state authorities.
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